AN: I don't own any of the hobbit characters I am just taking them out of Tolkien's toy box and playing with them.
FanFiction Queen: Crystallised Stem ginger darling…only the best :D of course he does who do you think taught Ori :D, I have a Christmas present for you…I'm not telling you what it is though. Oh and please don't kill me for the punishment chapter in its worth fighting for when I get it up. Oh and I have posted another one shot linking into this story. Oh! I like that words, so tempted to use it in normal conversation…maybe when I'm drunk…I find the pronounciation of Khudzul easy enough, the grammar is a bit of a pain though (I've just realised I've been writing it as meaning concerning the dwarfen peoples rather than the language of the dwarfen peoples…sorry I told you work would get to me). I like baking…in fact so much so I work in an in store bakery, as well as just generally spending far too much time in the kitchen at home, but I do like your motto…must remember that. Poor Balin, he is not a grampa-although in that scene does that make Dori gramma? Hmm there may be some teaching…I don't yet know, I'll see how sting wants to be wrote…you know whether the pretty sword wants a starring role yet or if it wants to hide in the back ground. Sorry I'm rambling I started in on the chocolate Baileys after writing Punishment…I hate myself. Oh Glad you liked Oin's story…poor dear needed some laughter, I was a bit mean when I made his history up…but then I don't think I was nice to any of the characters when I made their history up…oh I just realised what you meant when you said any character I touch becomes 'poor'.
randomplotbunny: thank you…it was suggested I did some of his opinion and I am glad you think I did it justice. Thank you I hadn't thought about it like that, I was just trying to write what Thorin was seeing.
hjohn302: oh my, where to start. Firstly thank you. Erm I am rather nasty to my characters so it may be as in book, it depends if I get any more attached to my two baby dwarves, and Bofur and Ori…I don't know if I can do that to them. :D you gave me ideas again, thank you :D I'll let you know if I include them in this story or as a one shot when I decide…my idea file has as many ideas in it as I have chapters posted now:D, I don't think we see BOFA in this movie otherwhys what would they have for the third one. And thank you again, I'm glad you still like and take the time to review.
Chapter Twenty Eight- Grr Argh.
Bilbo stifled a groan as the bright sunlight forced him into waking, he rolled over and buried his head into the nice furry pillow by his head, and snuggled in further as his blankets wrapped a comfy arm around him. He froze, sleepy mind jumping awake as it processed that thought. He carefully opened his eyes and saw he was using Dwalin as a pillow and the dwarf seemed to be using him as a blanket himself. A gentle snoring from his feet brought his attention to the fact the left one was numb. Carefully…and without moving his body…he glanced down to bite back a giggle at the sight of Nori using it as a pillow. His face, already rumpled by sleep, softened further as he took in the fact Bifur was actually snuggling into Nori's side and the green eyed dwarf had an arm wrapped around Bifur's broad shoulders. Something nudged him in the back and listening carefully to the snores Bilbo decided it was Ori and Kili, it had to be both of them as there were too many arms for it to be a single dwarf. He frowned slightly, he hoped the company would let the lads alone to court in their own manner, traditions were well and good, but if they interfered with someone's happiness…he shrugged softly causing Dwalin to mumble in his sleep and pull him closer. He froze worried he'd woken the dwarf, but Dwalin merely buried his nose in his curls and went back to his deep steady breathing. From his new vantage spot propped on Dwalin's chest he could see Fili, Bofur and Bombur asleep on the far side of the warrior dwarf. Fili still wore his crown of grass and flowers, while Bofur had seemingly take to wearing the flower chain Fili had been making the day before, Bombur was acting as a pillar for both. Bilbo couldn't hold it in any long and his merry laugh rang around the clearing and awoke most of the dwarves. Several reached for weapons before realisation hit them, but Dwalin merely smiled up at him, "Hello," blinked the warrior, his voice gravely from sleep and Bilbo bit back the fantasy of what it would be like to wake up to that voice every morning. "You make a warm blanket Bilbo," grinned Dwalin.
Bilbo chuckled and resting him elbows on Dwalin's chest peered down at him, "And you a comfy pillow Dwalin, but I dare say the rest of the company are probably scandalised by our saying so."
He watched as Dwalin tilted his head slightly, the warrior's voice rolling over him again and Bilbo could swear he felt the laugh rumble through him, "Like any of them can say anything."
Bilbo pushed up from Dwalin chuckling at the various swear words being thrown at the warrior in Khuzdul, (he was sure the dwarves didn't think he could understand them), and kicked Bofur gently as he passed. The miner glared up at him through sleepy eyes, "What Mister Bagg..ggg…ins?" he yawned, "Was sleeping."
Bilbo rolled his eyes, "yes we all were and I was comfy as well but you were clutching Master Fili as if he were a teddy bear Master Bofur." Bilbo ignored the glower sent by him by the blonde dwarf and raised an eyebrow at Bofur's pout.
"Should 'o left me 'lone then Mister Baggins, I never 'ad a teddy as a child." The be-hatted dwarf stretched and turned to his brother, "Move Bom, 'fore this lot start yammering on 'bout their stomachs."
Bilbo chuckled watching the brothers interact and pulled Fili up by his ear, "What was that look for hmmm?" he asked in an under tone, "you know for your kin cuddling outside of family is frowned upon." Seeing Fili pout he relented, "I got you apart before grumpy pants was awake and alert, from my point of view cuddle awa..omf…I didn't mean me!" despite his protests he wrapped his arms around Fili's shoulders drawing himself up to his full height to do so. He caught Bofur watching and stuck his tongue out at the miner. Taking a deep breath he release Fili and stepped back, "Right I am going to see to ponies, you wake grumpy, get Messrs Kili and Ori to wake the Grey One…tell them to use puppy dog eyes, he can't resist them." Leaving the dwarves behind him Bilbo strode into the trees and set about feeding the ponies, he cursed up a storm when he found rodents had gotten into one of the supply bags, 'something else for grumpy dwarf to blame me for' he grumbled, as he distractedly stroked his ponies nose. He still didn't know its name or sex but he figured the animal didn't care as long as he was kind to it and fed it.
When Bilbo re-joined the others it was to see Thorin and Dwalin standing toe to toe and glaring. He shot a look at the wizard and merely got glowered at in response. Balin was standing with his head in his hands, but the rest of the camp seemed to have come to a standstill. He sighed. Loudly. "Let me guess Master Oakenshield once again spoke without thinking?" The glare he got off the prince confirmed it. He stepped up to Dwalin's side, entwining their fingers and making the other switch his glare to him. The grey eyes were like steel for a second before they softened and Bilbo smiled gently at him leaning up to press their foreheads together, "you really have to stop taking everything he says at face value Dwalin." He squeezed the large hand as he drew apart again, "What did he say?"
Dwalin's deep flush had him interested and he leant close to catch the words falling from the dwarf's lips, "He insulted you again, I can't seem to help getting annoyed."
Bilbo had ignored Thorin's shocked gasp before and merely raised an eyebrow waiting for the other to go on, "Come on Dwalin, that cannot be it, there is no way the dwarf I am coming to know would react like that against an old friend merely because of a misunderstanding about words of all things." He deliberately held the grey eyes captive with his own, stepping forward into Dwalin's personal space and releasing the hand to slide his own around Dwalin's waist. "Tell me," he whispered softly, as if they were the only people in the farmhouse. He decided to act as if they were alone, because it worked to calm Dwalin down.
Dwalin looked into green-hazel eyes filled with compassion and concern. He didn't want to tell Bilbo what had been said, he didn't want those eyes to fill with sadness but something was telling him to just trust. "He said we were weak," he winced as his voice came out as nearly a whisper and wished he wasn't wearing so many layers of furs and armour so he could feel the soothing circles he knew Bilbo was rubbing on his back, "He said we were weak because it took a hobbit to make us into the dwarves who could survive this quest. He said we were weak because we had accepted you too easily without any reason to trust you, he said we were fools because you were not a dwarf and would never be. He said you were weak because you have never know true hardship or pain, he said you were foolish to leave behind your home to go with a group of strangers." Dwalin realised his voice was shaking and he was close to tears, so he closed his eyes "He said you were nothing."
He paused and looked at Bilbo's face, the hobbit was merely looking at him with concern and patience, so he pushed on, "I lost my temper then I'm afraid Bilbo." He ran a callused hand over the smooth cheek of the hobbit in front of him, "I couldn't listen to him say such things about you." His voice broke on a sob and he looked down ashamed.
He felt a warm hand on his cheek and refused to look up after such a show of weakness, but Bilbo merely slid the hand around into his hair and pulled their foreheads to rest together. "I am proud you stood up for me Dwalin," he breathed and Dwalin felt them rather than heard them, "you can't keep fighting with your family because of me though." He ran his own hand into Bilbo's curls instinctively, this time hearing but not understanding the gasp as his hand brushed the pointed ear.
"I will try to leave you to fight your own battles then Bilbo," he rasped out, pleased to find his voice steady once more. He was granted a small chuckle in return and reluctantly let Bilbo from his grasp when the hobbit went to turn. He was pleasantly surprised when Bilbo merely settled himself to lean against him as he faced Thorin.
He winced at the exhausted tone in Bilbo's voice, "Well Master Oakenshield, would you tell me what I have done to make you hate me so?" Dwalin wrapped his arm around Bilbo's waist as the hobbit continued, listening carefully in case the smaller male became over whelmed. "No? Fine Master Oakenshield, I'm am going to speak and you will listen or I'll put beetles in you next bowl of stew." Dwalin hid his smirk in Bilbo's curls, "Firstly I will have you know we hobbits have excellent hearing Master Thorin, meaning every derogatory thing you have said under your breath, every prayer, every chuckle I have heard. I know when people are eves dropping on my conversations with others and would ask you please don't do it deliberately. I have also heard everything that has been said to you regarding myself by Master Balin. I could give you a list of my attributes but I doubt that would endear my person to you. Do you want to know why I agreed to come on this quest? Do you want to know just how much pain and hardship I have had to face? Do you want to know just what your fellow dwarrows went through to get to the point of being able to trust me even a little? I might be nothing to you Master Oakenshield, I might never be anything to you, but I am beyond caring. You act like a small child who has been denied a treat, like a child whose first and only friend has made others…you are rude, self-righteous…oh!" Dwalin's brain hopped to the same conclusion Bilbo's brain seemed to reach even as the hobbit spoke the words out loud, "like a child whose first friend has made others." Even as Bilbo sagged against him Dwalin was panicking, he doubt this hobbit who had given up everything to come with them would stay as close to him if it made others feel bad. Bilbo's words shocked him into stillness, "well while I sort of understand you can pull your head out of your arse Master Oakenshield because it is so far up you can't the shit you're talking! I will not give up my friendship with your nephews, I will not give up my friendship with any of the company merely because you are jealous. And if this is about Dwalin then I'm going to tell you to F.U.B.I.S because I have never met anyone like him and am likely to never will, so not a chance no sir, not ever. Shove it!"
Dwalin tugged Bilbo back several steps as he kept a close eye on Thorin's expression, he tuned out the rest of the company and focused solely on what he had just learnt. Bilbo was still ridged in his arms and he desperately sought a way to calm the hobbit down, he couldn't think of one so settled for drawing the smaller man closer and resting his head on his shoulder.
Thorin was watching the two interact and knew his mouth had dropped open but he couldn't bring himself to care. The hobbit's words struck home hard and a guilty part of his brain finally remembered the lad's words at Facere Fortis. He now felt even worse and as he watched the hobbit relax in his friend's arms he realised there was only one thing he could do. "I'm sorry Master Baggins," he cleared his throat, "I apologise for any insult caused and for my words and actions towards you. I also apologise to the company, my words were uncalled for and my actions stupid." He turned his eyes to Dwalin and winced as he saw the other watching him suspiciously, "Dwalin," he all but whimpered, "I really am sorry." If he hadn't been watching he would have missed the elbow Bilbo planted in Dwalin's stomach before the other dwarf wrapped him in a bear hug. He chose to ignore it especially when Fili and Kili joined the hug.
"Well I've found the troll's cave and the key Bilbo found fits you might want to come and take a … by Mandos' Halls just what is going on?" Bilbo fought the urge to face palm. The wizard's timing sucked.
AN: I'm sorry I know I promised troll cave but I got caught up in this. Reviews please
